Contact details

Francis Mussai is a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Oncology in the Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy and an Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Oncology at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

His research is focused on understanding the interaction between paediatric and adult cancers and the immune system, in particular how cancers suppress the immune response to avoid destruction. Projects involving solid tumours and haematological malignancies are currently underway.

In addition Francis aims to develop novel therapies for paediatric cancers, from pre-clinical studies through to early phase clinical trials.

Qualifications

DPhil in Clinical Medicine, Magdalen College, University of Oxford, 2012

MA (Oxon) in Physiological Sciences, St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford

Biography

Francis read Medicine at the University of Oxford graduating in 2004. He developed an interest in Paediatric Oncology through early clinical experience with the late Dr John Pritchard. Francis went on to complete his General Paediatrics training at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford under the stewardship of Dr Chris Mitchell.

In 2007, Francis was accepted onto the Johns Hopkins-National Institutes of Health Joint Fellowship Program in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (USA) and underwent sub-speciality training. Whilst at the NIH, he begun doctoral studies, through a Wellcome Trust-NIH Studentship. Under the mentorship of Dr Ira Pastan and Dr Alan Wayne, Francis investigated the cytotoxicity of a novel anti-CD22 immunotoxin against paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

In 2010, Francis returned to the University of Oxford to complete his doctoral studies in Professor Vincenzo Cerundolo’s laboratory. He investigated the mechanisms in which Acute Myeloid Leukaemia blasts create an immunosuppressive niche and suppress haematopoiesis.

In 2012, Francis moved to Birmingham to lead a research group investigating the immunosuppressive microenvironment created by paediatric malignancies.

Clinically, Francis is an honorary Paediatric Oncology Consultant at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. He continues to work on the development of early phase clinical trials for paediatric cancers, and is a member of the Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) European Clinical Trials Committee. He is involved in teaching within the hospital and University and has established an International Clinical Fellowship program within the clinical department.

Teaching

Paediatric Haematology-Oncology International Clinical Fellow program - Lead

Postgraduate supervision

Francis supervises in pre- and post- doctoral research students who are interested in the immunology of paediatric and adult cancers or investigating the activity of novel targeted therapies. The group contains a number of technical, undergraduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral staff. The group welcomes applications from prospective doctoral or post-doctoral candidates who wish to apply for Fellowship/ Grant programs to join the team.

Research

Francis’ research group is centred on understanding how paediatric solid tumours and haematological malignancies interact with the immune system and suppress the immune response. The laboratory is co-supervised with Dr Carmela De Santo. Research studies are carried out in collaboration with a number of local, national and international research collaborators. Clinical trials based on this laboratory’s research are being established in partnership with pharmaceutical companies to try and improve patient outcomes.

Adult Cancers

Research projects investigating how adult cancers (such as colon, mesothelioma, renal, and melanoma) escape from the immune system are underway in the laboratory. New drugs which can re-activate the immune response against cancer are being tested, alongside national clinical trials. The research is co-supervised with Professor Gary Middleton.

Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial solid malignancy of childhood. Although the prognosis for low stage neuroblastoma has improved, patients with Stage IV neuroblastoma have an extremely poor survival despite treatment with high chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a population of immature myeloid cells found in increased numbers in adults with solid tumours and they inactivate a patient’s anti-tumour immune response. The project aims to understand the role of MDSCs in the immunobiology of neuroblastoma and target their activity, to restore anti-cancer immunity. The project is being carried out in collaboration with Professor John Anderson at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Professor Louis Chesler at the Institute for Cancer Research, and Dr Kate Wheeler at the Children’s Hospital, Oxford.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is the most frequent leukaemia in adults and the second most common leukaemia of childhood. Despite intensification of chemotherapy treatment, a significant number of patients will relapse and succumb to their disease. The mechanisms in which AML blasts create an immunosuppressive niche and halt normal haematopoiesis are currently under study in the Mussai group. Development of prognostic biomarkers and identification of therapies to overcome the immunosuppressive microenvironment in AML are the subject of ongoing research. The study is being carried out in collaboration with Dr Pam Kearns.

The research has been generously funded by the Amber Phillpott Trust Birmingham Children's Hospital Research Fund, Children with Cancer, the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation, Niayah’s Fund, Cancer Research UK and other local charities.We welcome enquiries interested in finding our more about our work or how to contribute to our research funding.